Production Of Bio-Diesel From Pongamia Oil and Bio-Diesel Performance With Emission Test

Mr.P. Sivakkumar1, Mr.R.Ramadoss

1,2

Department of Mechanical Engineering, Thiruvalluvar College of Engineering and Technology Vandavasi Tamil Nadu, India
1 2

kumar.siva681@gmailcom

ramadoss98@gmail.com

methyl esters derived from renewable sources such as cottonseed oil was prepared by a method of vegetable oils has gained importance as an alternative fuel for Transesterification and its blends of 25%, 50%, 75% and 100% diesel engines [4]. Karanja is an oil seed bearing tree, which is nonin volume, and standard diesel fuel separately. The effects of biodiesel addition to diesel fuel on the performance, emissions edible and does not Wand any suitable application with only 6% and combustion characteristics of a naturally aspirated DI being utilized out of 200 million tons per annum. Karanja is a compression ignition engine were examined. Biodiesel has native to humid and subtropical environments having annual different properties from diesel fuel. A minor increase in rainfall ranging from 500 to 2500mm in its natural habitat. specific fuel consumption (SFC) and reduced brake thermal The maximum temperature ranges from 27 to 38 C and the efficiency (BTE) for biodiesel and its blends were observed minimum 1 to 16 C. It can grow on most soil types ranging compared with diesel fuel. The significant improvement in from stony to sandy to clay, including verticals. It does not do reduction of Hydrocarbon (HC) and smoke emission were well in dry sands. It is highly tolerant to salinity. It can be found for biodiesel and its blends at high engine loads. Carbon propagated either by seeds or by root suckers. The yield of monoxide (CO) had no evident variation for all tested fuels. kernels per tree is between 8 and 24 kg. The freshly extracted Nitrogen oxides (NOx) were slightly higher for biodiesel and Karanja oil is yellowish orange to brown and rapidly darkens its blends. The significant improvement in reduction of NOx on storage. It has a disagreeable odor and bitter taste. The oil and a minor increase in CO2 and O2 were identified use of contains several furano Xavones such as karanjin, pongapin, selective catalytic reduction (SCR).Biodiesel and its blends and ponga glabrin. At present the oil is being used as a raw exhibited similar combustion stages to diesel fuel. The use of material for soap, and after sulphonating and sulphation in the transesterified cottonseed oil can be partially substituted for leather tanning industries, the main constraints for its more the diesel fuel at most operating conditions in terms of the usage are the colour and odour [1]. Bio diesel is referred to as the mono-alkyl esters of performance parameters and emissions without any engine long chain fatty acids derived from renewable lipid sources. modification. Bio diesel is the name for a variety of ester based oxygenated fuel from renewable biological sources. It can be used in Keywords Pongamia oil, Biodiesel, Transesterification diesel engines with little modifications. It is biodegradable non toxic and possesses low emission profiles. Also, the uses 1. INTRODUCTION of bio diesels are environmentally beneficial. The name Presently the worlds energy needs are met through biodiesel was introduced in the United States during 1992 by non-renewable resources such as petrochemicals, natural gas the National Soy Diesel Development Board which has and coal. Since the demand and cost of petroleum based fuel pioneered the commercialization of biodiesel in the US. One is growing rapidly, and if the present pattern of consumption hundred years ago, Rudolf Diesel first tested vegetable oil as continues, these resources will be depleted in few years. fuel for this engine. Bio diesel has the potential to reduce the Hence, efforts are being made to explore for alternative source level of global warming. In this work, the Pongamia oil was used as feedstock of energy. The high energy demand in in the industrialized world as well as in the domestic sector and pollution problems resource. In the process of transesterification, two liquid caused due to the widespread use of fossil fuels make it phases are formed. The lower phase mainly consists of increasingly necessary to develop the renewable energy glycerol and some catalyst, intermediate products, and may sources of limitless duration and smaller environmental contain water and soap (from residual free fatty acids in the impact than the traditional one. An alternative fuel must be oil). Glycerol as a by product of the transesterification technically feasible, economically competitive, reaction has a number of applications in the pharmaceutical, environmentally acceptable and readily available Fatty acid cosmetics, food, and plastics industries but requires extensive
Abstract

In this study, the biodiesel produced from

washing and purification from the trace compounds. The upper phase mainly contains methyl/ethyl ester, which after removing an excess of methanol and washing with water is used as biodiesel. Then it is characterized to meet the ASTM requirements and the biodiesel yield is compared. Transesterification reaction is shown in fig. 1.

methanol and the resulting solution was added to the agitated reactor. The reaction was timed as soon as the catalyst/methanol solution was added to the reactor and it continued for 3hrs. Then the mixture was transferred to a separatory funnel, allowing glycerol to separate by gravity for 4 hrs. After removing the glycerol layer, the acidic methyl ester layer was changed to alkaline methyl ester when methyl ester was washed with mixture of NaHCO3 and water. Then alkaline methyl ester was washed with mixture of NaCl and water to remove methanol, catalyst and glycerol residuals. The methyl ester phase was then analysed to calculate the biodiesel yield. The resulting biodiesel was characterized for its fuel properties. Biodiesel production process flow is shown in fig 2.

Fig. 1. Transesterification reaction 2. METHODS 2.1 Materials The primary raw materials of Pongamia oil was used in the production of biodiesel. Pongamia oil was collected from a local market. These materials contain triglycerides, free fatty acids, and other contaminants. Since biodiesel is a monoalkyl fatty acid ester, the primary alcohol used to form the ester is the other major feedstock. Methanol was obtained from Taleco Laboratory for the Transesterification. Most processes for making biodiesel use a catalyst to initiate the esterification reaction. The catalyst is required because the alcohol is sparingly soluble in the oil phase. The catalyst promotes an increase in solubility to allow the reaction to proceed at a reasonable rate. Sulphuric acid was obtained from the Laboratory for the transesterification process. 2.2 Equipment Reactor consists of spherical flask of 1L capacity, which is put inside the heat jacket. Water is used as a medium of heat transfer from heat jacket to the reactor. Thermostat is a part of heat jacket, which maintains the temperature of water and in turn the temperature of the reactants at a desired value. The reaction is carried out at around 55-70 C. Spherical flask consists of three openings. The centre one is used for putting stirrer in the reactor. The motor propels the stirrer. Thermometer is put inside the second opening to continuously monitor the temperature of the reaction. Condenser is put in the third opening to reflux the alcohol vapours back to the reactor to prevent any reactant loss. Batch reactors have several positive features including good mixing characteristics and relative ease of handling homogeneous catalysts as used in the biodiesel transesterification reaction. 2.3 Experimental Procedure The reactor was initially filled with the desired amount of Pongamia oil, then placed in the constant-temperature bath with its associated equipment and heated to a predetermined temperature of 65C. The catalyst H2SO4 was dissolved in the

Fig. 2. Batch Reaction Process 3. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION 3.1 Analysis of feedstock

The physical and fuel properties of Pongamia oil are measured and compared with Diesel below,
Table 1. Physiochemical properties of oils Properties Specific gravity @15/15 0C Kinematic viscosity @40C in cSt Flash point (oC) Fire point ( oC) Cloud point Pour point Gross calorific value in kcal/kg Cetane Number Density @15 C in gm / cc Pongamia oil 0.9413 51.5 243 255 +9 +1 9,976 49.8 0.9405 Diesel 0.8225 3.01 51 61 +8 -13 10713 51 0.8218

3.2. Effect of reaction time on feedstocks conversion Effect of reaction time on Pongamia oil conversion is shown in fig 3. The conversion rate increases with time. The di glycerides and mono glycerides increased at the beginning and then decreased with increase in time duration. At the end of transesterification the amount of mono glycerides should be higher than that of triglycerides. In this project time duration is varied from 3 to 6 hours.

Methyl Ester %

Kinematic viscosity of oil is very higher than the diesel. The diesel engine does not run the high viscosity. Hence viscosity is reduced in biodiesel production process. Flash point and fire point are higher than the diesel. It is used to the transportation safety. The specific Gravity of conventional diesel fuel is about 0.8225 while a typical specific Gravity of Pongamia oil is 0.9413, which means Pongamia oil is denser than conventional diesel fuel.

of methyl ester. In ethanolysis these emulsions are more stable and severely complicate the separation and purification of esters. In this project molar ratio is varied from 3:1 to 12:1.

89 88.5 88 87.5 87 86.5 86 85.5 85 3 6 9 molar ratio 12

Fig. 4. Effect of molar ratio 3.4. Effect of reaction temperature on feedstocks conversion As a general rule, transesterification reaction is tried to be accomplished at lowest possible temperature. The commonly employed temperature ranges from as low as room temperature to up to 65C. Transesterification reaction has been reported to be influenced positively with increase in temperature. The boiling point of methanol is 64.7 C and hence the transesterification reaction is carried out within this range of temperature higher than this may burn methanol. In this project reaction temperature is varied from 550C to 700C. Higher conversion rate is obtained at 650C. More conversion rate can be achieved at higher temperature but it is not tried owing to danger of methanol vapours. Since temperature increases viscosity reduces. Lower temperatures are not suitable for transesterification reaction because of higher viscosity. Hence 650C temperature is kept fixed. Effect of amount of catalyst on Pongamia oil conversion is shown in fig 5.

89.5 89 88.5 88 87.5 87 86.5 86 85.5 2 3 4 5

Methyl Ester %

Reaction time (hrs)

Fig. 3. Effect of reaction time

3.3 Effect of molar ratio on feedstocks Conversion Fig 4. Shows the effect of molar ratio of methanol to Triglyceride on the Pongamia oil conversion into Methyl Ester. 89 The stoichiometric ratio for the transesterification requires three moles of alcohol and one mole of triglyceride to yield 88.5 three moles of fatty acid methyl ester and one mole of glycerol. 88 However transesterification is an equilibrium reaction in 87.5 which a large excess of alcohol is required to drive the reaction to the right side. For maximum conversion of ester 87 greater than 6:1 molar ratio is used. The molar ratio has no 86.5 effect on acid, peroxide, saponification and iodine value of 55 60 65 70 methyl esters. However the high molar ratio of alcohol to vegetable oil interferes the separation of glycerol because of amount of catalyst % increase in solubility. When the glycerol remains in the solution it helps to drive the equilibrium to the left side lowering the yield of esters. Methanol and ethanol are not Fig. 5. Effect of reaction temperature miscible with triglycerides at room temperature and the reaction mixtures are mechanically stirred to enhance mass 3.4 Effect of amount of catalyst on feedstocks conversion Higher the acidity of the oil, smaller the conversion transfer. During the course of reaction emulsions usually form. addition of more amount of catalyst In case of methanolysis these emulsions quickly and easily efficiency. The breakdown to form a lower layer glycerol and upper rich layer compensates for higher acidity, but the resulting soap causes

methyl ester %

an increase in viscosity or formation of gels which interferes the reaction as well as separation of glycerol. When the reaction conditions do not meet the above requirements ester yields are significantly reduced. In this project catalyst concentration is varied from 1.0 wt% to 2.5 wt%. Maximum conversion efficiency is obtained at 1.5 wt% and there is a significant reduction at 2.0 wt% because of excess catalyst lead to the formation of soap and decreased the yield . Effect of amount of catalyst on Pongamia Oil conversion is shown in fig 5. 89.5 89 88.5 88 87.5 87 86.5 1 1.5 2 2.5

Table 4. Fuel Properties of Methyl esters

Parameter

Pongamia oil

methyl ester %

Specific gravity @15/15 0C Kinematic viscosity @40C in cSt Flash point (oC) Fire point ( oC) Cloud point Pour point Gross calorific value in kcal/kg Cetane Number Density @15 C in gm / cc

0.9413 51.5 243 255 +9 +1 9,976 49.8 0.9405

Biodiesel from Pongamia oil 0.889 9.9 192 203 +9 +1 10189 50 0.881

Diesel

0.8225 3.01 51 61 +8 -13 10713 51 0.8218

amount of catalyst % Fig. 5. Effect of catalyst concentration

3.6 Characterization of methyl esters Methyl ester of Pongamia oil and diesel has different varying origin and quality. Hence, variation in the physical properties of biodiesel based on its oil source is obvious. Irrespective of the oil source, the biodiesel quality should meet certain standards in order to ensure better engine performance. American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) standard must be met in order to characterize the Biodiesel as a fuel. The acceptable Viscosities for biodiesel are nearly similar to that of the diesel fuel. The Biodiesel were characterized by determining its density, viscosity, higher heating value (HHV), cloud and pour points, characteristics of distillation and flash and combustion points according to meet the standards. The fuels were characterized by evaluation of the parameters required in ASTM, or American Standard Test Materials. The Biodiesel esters were characterized for their physical and fuel properties. The viscosities of Biodiesel fuels are twice compare to petroleum diesel. The cloud and pour points of petroleum diesel are significantly lower than those of the Biodiesel fuels. Biodiesel is a clean, 100% natural energy alternative to petroleum fuels. Table 4. Shows the fuel properties of biodiesel produced from Pongamia oil. All the values were within the ASTM standard limits.

4. CONCLUSION Pongamia oil is an economical feedstock for the production of biodiesel. However, the production process using this feedstock is usually more complicated than that using fresh oil feedstock. Due to the reduction of feedstock cost compared to other edible and non edible oils, biodiesel from highly Pongamia oil is a promising alternative. The SFC increases with increase in percentage of biodiesel in the blends due to the lower heating value of biodiesel. The BTE of biodiesel and its blends are slightly higher than that of diesel at high engine loads, and keep almost same at lower engine loads. combustion and increases the combustion chamber temperature, which leads to higher NOx emissions, especially at high engine loads. The significant improvement in reduction of NOx and a minor increase in CO2 were identified use of selective catalytic reduction (SCR). difference from diesel fuel. It is also observed that there is a significant reduction in CO and smoke emissions at high engine loads. biodiesel play a key role in engine performance and biodiesel is proved to be a potential fuel for complete or partially replacement of diesel fuel. The combustion starts earlier for biodiesel and its blends than for diesel. The peak cylinder

pressure of biodiesel and its blends is higher than that of diesel fuel, and almost identical at high engine loads. The peak pressure rise rate and peak heat release rate of biodiesel are higher than those of diesel fuel

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT A moral support from CLRI, Chennai for providing all the adequate facilities for producing biodiesel from Pongamia oil is greatly acknowledged. REFERENCES
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